Loving the enemy

Chapter 19

Ava’s pov

His fingers brushed my waist, so light I felt my body tingle. Not because I didn’t want it. God, that was the problem but because I did.

Too much.

Liam’s eyes held mine, dark and steady, like he could read every thought I was trying to hide. “Tell me I’m wrong,” he said again, his voice low and rough, vibrating through me.

I couldn’t answer. My throat felt tight, my lips parted but no sound came out. I wanted to deny him, to shove him away, to remind myself he was the man who ruined my family. But when his hand pressed firmer against my hip, when his breath touched my cheek, all I could think was how much I wanted him closer.

On paper I was his wife. A lie. A fraud. But here in his arms, my body didn’t seem to care.

My heart pounded so loud I was sure he could hear it. My hands twitched, aching to rise, to touch him, to pull him in.

Then his eyes dropped to my mouth.

The breath rushed out of me. He was going to kiss me. I wanted him to. I hated that I wanted it.

Without meaning to, I leaned in, my body betraying me.

“Liam—” I whispered, but it came out too soft, more like a plea than a warning.

He leaned closer, his lips almost brushing mine. Heat poured off him, making my knees weak.

In the mirror behind him, I caught my reflection, the emerald gown hugging me, his tall frame looming over me and reality hit me. This wasn’t just about me. This wasn’t just about want. He was the enemy. The man I swore to destroy, not crave.

At the last second, I turned my head. His lips grazed my cheek instead, burning a trail across my skin.

“I should… try the next dress,” I blurted, stepping back too quickly, my voice too bright, too rushed. My hands smoothed the silk, desperate to hide their shaking.

For a moment, he just looked at me. His eyes unreadable, his jaw tight. Like he knew I was running from something and part of him wanted to chase it. I could see the question in his gaze.

Why would his wife hesitate to kiss him?

I just hoped I hadn’t ruined everything. But I couldn’t trust myself if I let him kiss me.

Finally, his lips curved into a slow smile. “Go on then.”

I ducked into the fitting room, the curtain closed behind me. My chest rose and fell too fast, my palms pressing to the cool wall as I tried to calm the heat burning through my skin.

Focus. Dresses. That’s why I was here. Nothing else.

One after another, I tried them on, silk, lace, colors that caught the light. Each time I stepped out, Liam’s eyes followed me like I was the only thing in the room. He didn’t say much, but I could see it in the way his mouth curved, in how his gaze darkened when a dress rose a little too high. His attention burned against my skin, breaking down the walls I swore I’d keep between us.

By the time the last dress was folded into glossy bags, my heart still hadn’t calmed.

The staff packed everything with ribbons and bows, Liam gave his smooth thanks, and soon we were back outside. The driver opened the door. I slid in first, the bags neatly stacked beside me. Liam followed, his arm brushing mine as the car pulled into traffic.

The silence was heavy.

I stared out the window, watching city lights and everything but him. My chest still felt shaky, but I told myself it was just the shopping, the stress. Not him. Definitely not him.

Then his voice broke the silence.

“When did you say we got married again?”

My stomach dropped. Slowly, I turned to him. His sharp blue eyes locked on me. No smile.

I forced a calm smile of my own, my voice steady. “Six months ago. Reno, Nevada. Do you remember?”

For a second, doubt flickered across his face. Then it was gone.

“Right,” he said simply, leaning back. His expression gave nothing away.

The rest of the ride was silent. Too silent. My hands twisted in my lap.

Is he starting to doubt me? Am I slipping?

By the time we reached the estate, I felt so anxious. We walked upstairs together, side by side, the silence pressing between us. His room came first, the door was half open. He stopped there, hand on the handle.

“Goodnight, Ava,” he said softly, distant, already turning away from me.

Without thinking, I grabbed his wrist.

He froze. Slowly, he looked down at my hand on his skin, then back up at me.

I swallowed hard, forcing the words out. “You’re better now. Maybe… we should start sleeping in the same room again.” I said like we had slept in the same room before.

Silence. His face gave nothing away. My chest tightened.

Then his whole expression changed. His grin was boyish, bright, so unguarded it made something inside me ache.

“Ava,” he said softly, almost in awe, “you have no idea how long I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”

My heart slammed against my ribs. I couldn’t answer just gave him a weak smile. I didn’t know if I had just gained control… or given it all to him.

–––

Steam fogged the mirror, blurring my reflection. I held on to the sink, water dripping down my spine, the towel clinging to damp skin. I was in Liam’s bathroom and still wondering how and why I got myself into this.

What was I doing?

Pretending to be his wife had been one thing—papers, lies, words I could control. But sharing a room? Sleeping beside him? That was different. Too heavy. Too real.

I shut my eyes and pressed my forehead against the cool glass. Flashes came, my mom in a hospital bed, the bills piling high, my dad’s broken voice when he spoke about the company we lost. This was for them. For revenge. For justice.

But the truth cut through the steam: it didn’t feel like revenge when Liam looked at me like that. It felt like I was drowning.

A sound outside jolted me.

Footsteps. A soft thud. I froze, then opened the bathroom door a bit to look though.

Housekeepers moved quietly around the bedroom, setting down boxes and folded clothes. My clothes. Dresses, shoes, even the old sweater I wore on cold nights. They were sliding my things into his closet, into his drawers, like they belonged there. Like I belonged there.

This was real. Too real.

I shut the door, pressing my back against it. My breaths came fast, shallow. My hands shook as I pushed them through my wet hair. The walls felt like they were closing in. Like I was standing on a cliff and couldn’t step back.

What if I couldn’t keep lying? What if he figured it out? What if instead of destroying Liam Vance… I was destroying myself?

Heat burned at the back of my eyes. My heart pounded, wild and out of control. I pressed a hand against my chest, trying to steady it.

And then—

I heard a sudden knock on the bathroom door.